The Index Vol. 113, Issue 2 by Truman State University Index

Volleyball looks to bump out the old page 14

Cats vs. dogs,

page 8

Feeding Adair County, page 10 Cross country freshmen look to go the distance, page 13

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu tmn.truman.edu

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

@TrumanIndex

NEW STUDENT TOTAL BOUNCES BACK GABE SMITH Staff Writer Truman’s number of new students jumped 10.4% from last fall, an indication that the university could eventually see a return to pre-pandemic numbers in the coming years. This year, the number of newly enrolled students was up 10% from last year’s number of 891. The increased number of new students doesn’t tell the whole story, said Ryan Myzak, director of admissions. “For new incoming first-year students we are actually flat to a little bit down compared to last year,” Myzak said. “But, we’ve seen increased numbers of transfer students, a lot of graduate students that have come in the new programs we’ve started and the existing ones that we’ve had.” This non-traditional mix of students is likely due to several changes that the admissions staff has made since Myzak arrived last December. Attracting more transfer students has proved to be a major factor in this year’s success. Myzak said that he and his staff began offering free credit transfer evaluations to transfer students in order to make an education at Truman more accessible to individuals seeking to change schools. “We were able to make a lot of changes for the fall intake that were able to increase headcount,” Myzak said. Returning international students were a key contributor to the recent growth.

A freshman performs at the freshmen talent show and awards show. The amount of new students has increased by 10.4%. Photo by Oliver Malone

See ENROLLMENT page 3

University hires institutional compliance officer ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor

Truman State University has hired Ryan Nely as the new institutional compliance officer, replacing former officer Lauri Millot. The institutional compliance officer is in charge of assuring Truman’s compliance with Title IX and discriminatory matters. They also ensure that the University has non-discrimination policies that comply with state and federal law. Millot had served as the University’s institutional compliance officer since 2018. She is now the Title IX director for The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The institutional compliance officer position was posted in March. Applications started to get reviewed in April and Zoom interviews began in May with selected applicants. Nely was then invited to Truman in June for an in-person interview. Nely described his job as mainly dealing with discrimination, harassment and abuse situations. He then conducts educational programming to further prevent any future incidents. “I make sure we are complying with all the relevant state and federal laws and regulations that determine what we have to do in terms of any discrimination and creating a good environment,” Nely said.

Ryan Nely’s office is located at Violette Hall. Nely ensures that the University complies with Title IX. Photo by Anakin Bush If the University fails to comply with Title IX, Nely said the highest punishment would be Truman losing all federal funding. See TITLE IX page 6

University updates COVID-19 policies KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer

Zac Burden, coordinator for Residence Life, talks to a student at the Back to School Bash. Masks are not required in outdoor settings. Photo by Oliver Malone

With the beginning of the fall semester, Truman State University has implemented some new COVID-19 policies, as well as revised some previous ones. On Aug. 9, Truman began requiring masks in indoor spaces. The guidelines on social distancing that were in place for the 2020-21 academic year are no longer in place. Masks are not required in outdoor settings. The policies for quarantining and testing have also changed since the spring semester. Students who believe they may have COVID-19 should contact the Student Health Center. The Student Health Center will then help the student get tested, and will help determine if a student needs to isolate or quarantine themselves. Students who are unvaccinated and have been exposed to COVID-19 will need to quarantine for 10 days. For students who are vaccinated, they may be asked to isolate themselves for a few days, usually until test results are received. The COVID-19 guidelines will be reevaluated and reviewed by Sept. 17. See COVID-19 page 5

The Index

SAB WELCOMES BACK STUDENTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Back to School Bash and a comedian hosted on The Quad

Left: Senior Sarah Bellm gets ready to play a game of cornhole. This was one of the many activities offered at the event. Photo by Emily Collins

Below: Comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson performed a comedy show on The Quad. Johnson has been featured on Late Night with Seth Meyers and Broad City. Photo by Oliver Malone

Above: A student jumps into bowling pins while inside an inflatable ball. Nine square was another inflatable activity students could play. Photo by Oliver Malone Right: Sophomore Cole Hadley jumps on the eurobungy trampoline. This was a large activity that multiple people could do at once. Photo by Rachel Becker

Crime Reports DPS & KPD 8/24 Theft reported at the 500 block of East Scott St.

8/28 Assault reported at the 2700 block of Novinger St.

8/24 Theft reported at the 700 block of East Meadow Ln.

8/28 Theft reported at the 1100 block of Oxford Dr.

8/24 Theft reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

8/28 Domestic disturbance reported at the 600 block of South Elson St.

8/25 Vandalism reported at the 300 block of East Washington St. 8/25 Theft reported at the 1400 block of South Baltimore St. 8/26 Theft reported at the 400 block of North Main St. 8/26 Shoplifting reported at the 3300 block of North Baltimore St. 8/26 Harassment reported at the 700 block of West Elizabeth St. 8/27 Theft reported at the 1900 block of Pintail Dr. 8/28 Vandalism reported at the 110 block of North Franklin St. 8/28 Theft reported at the 2500 block of North Industrial Rd. 8/28 Trespassing reported at the 1000 block of south Sheridan St.

8/29 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1000 block of West Michigan St. 8/29 Burglary reported at the 1100 block of North Osteopathy St. 8/29 Trespassing reported at the 1400 block of East Randolph St. 8/29 Theft reported at the 800 block of East Patterson St. 8/30 Harassment reported at the 700 block of West Elizabeth St. 8/30 Theft reported at the 30000 block of North Baltimore St. 8/30 Harassment reported at the 100 block of East McPherson St. 8/31 Burglary reported at the 700 block of West Martha St.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

ENROLLMENT| The amount of new students at Truman rose 10.4% from last year Continued from page 1 Assistant director of international education, Will Storm, pointed out several factors that contributed to the growth and return of international students to Truman. The most important factors were reductions in health concerns and an increase in access to visas. Last year’s interest in coming to the United States was extremely low because of COVID-19, Storm said. “This year we are seeing a strong increase in that interest again, people are feeling ready and eager to come to the U.S. to study.” That increased interest has consequently resulted in slow processing times for visas and backlogged embassies abroad. Storm highlighted the backlog as a fundamental explanation for why we did not see rising numbers in the previous year. “It was very hard to get an appointment, many embassies weren’t even taking appointments at that time,” Storm said. “There were also issues travelling: getting a flight, getting to the United States, lockdowns and government decisions to limit travel from certain places.” Because of the demand for visas and international education, Storm said that the department is anticipating a larger than average class in the coming spring. Storm also said that, to date, the Delta and Lambda variants have not had a tangible impact on the visa process for international students.

“We still really managed to get a great incoming class this year,” Storm said. “Our incoming class for this fall is almost comparable to what it was two years ago, before the pandemic. We’ve bounced back from that big covid impact.” “There is a human aspect to this, too. It is an incredibly diverse group of students that are really tenacious and worked very hard to get here. We do want numbers, and to see enrollment increase, but we also hope for diversity of experiences and to bring that to our community on campus,” Storm said. Myzak pointed out that the same upward trend applied to the overall new student numbers as well, indicating that applications are already up compared to this time last year. Though the numbers indicate that a recovery in overall student population may be on the horizon, there is still a high level of uncertainty about what lies ahead for Truman’s enrollment numbers. “We know demographics are going to shrink,” Mysak said. “If we’re thinking long-term planning, 10, 15, 20 years, it’s a very different market in terms of what we can expect for size.” Both Storm and Myzak are optimistic about enrollment as COVID-19 cases recede and consumer confidence increases.

University President Sue Thomas presents awards at the annual freshmen awards show. The amount of international students contributed to the rise in enrollment. Photo by Oliver Malone

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Be vigilant, get vaccinated According to the Adair County Health Department, the COVID-19 case numbers increased by 33 patients between Aug. 27-30, bringing the total number of active cases in the county to 109, with 3,057 people who have left isolation. Last week the entire seven-day total was 97 new COVID-19 patents. The Health Department said in a press release, “With the deadly Delta variant causing a surge of COVID-19, local experts are urging residents to get vaccinated.” According to the Mayo Clinic, Missouri currently has 52% of residents with at least one dose of the vaccine. That’s only about 2.76 million Missouri residents that are fully vaccinated. As students plan for the long Labor Day weekend they may set their sights on going home. However, with rising COVID-19 numbers in Kirksville and concerns that come with traveling during a pandemic, be cautious when heading home, especially if you’re unvaccinated. We, the Index Editorial Board, believe it is important for students and the overall Kirksville community to not only remain vigilant when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic but also take precautions against the virus, like getting the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance states that fully vaccinated individuals can travel domestically without needing to test before or after and without quarantining, so if you took the jab there’s no need to plan for testing or quarantining over the long weekend. As for unvaccinated individuals, the CDC still recommends you get a viral test 1-3 days before you travel and quarantine at your destination for seven days after travel. There has been misinformation about the pandemic spread through social media and traditional media. It is important to stay informed, not purely from social media, but to ensure you are following information from the CDC, World Health Organization, Food and Drug Administration and local health authorities. You can battle misinformation by following credible sources, as well as researching the claims you hear.

Many people hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine wanted to wait until the vaccines were fully approved by the FDA. As of Aug. 23, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was granted full approval. Since Dec. 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under emergency use authorization in individuals 16 years of age and older, and the authorization was expanded to include those 12 through 15 years of age on May 10, 2021. EUAs can be used by the FDA during public health emergencies to provide access to medical products that may be effective in preventing or treating a disease, provided that the FDA determines that the known and potential benefits of a product, when used to prevent, diagnose or treat the disease, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product. For all vaccines, the FDA evaluates data included in the manufacturer’s submission of a biologics license application. This application builds on the extensive information previously submitted that supported the EUA, such as preclinical and clinical results, as well as details of the manufacturing process, vaccine testing results to ensure vaccine quality and inspections of the sites where the vaccine is made. The agency conducts its own analyses of the information in the application to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective and meets the FDA’s standards for approval. Vaccines are not only essential for the health of our community as a whole, but they are easy to acquire. Vaccines are being offered at a variety of locations. In Kirksville, vaccines are being given at Walmart, Walgreens, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Rider Drug and Kirksville Pharmacy. Truman State University will also be offering a vaccine clinic on-campus today from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Student Health Center. The long weekend is also the perfect time to get the shot if you haven’t yet, as the long weekend can be used to nurse any possible mild effects of the vaccine, like the dreaded sore arm.

Stu Gov

Buzz

We’re excited to have everyone back and hope you are having a great first few weeks! We want to let you know that Student Government is here for you as a resource. There are many things we do around campus to benefit students; here are just some of them: 1. Approve funding - Student Government receives a budget of more than $22,000 per year from the University to spend on programming and projects. Additionally, we oversee the spending of the athletic and environmental fees, which account for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I struggled working during the pandemic

BROOKE BARNES Assistant Copy Chief At the height of COVID-19, I had just finished my sophomore year at Truman State University, and my lease for my very first apartment was about to begin. I was very excited. I had been living at home for two months and I was ready to move out and have my own space again. Despite the excitement of having my own apartment, it meant having bills to pay with money I did not have. I tried to get a job back in March of 2020, but businesses were too scared to hire with the pandemic just beginning. But sure enough, in the following May, I got a job at Walmart in Kirksville. I had worked retail before, and I knew mostly what to expect, but I didn’t account for the new COVID-19 restrictions and how that would change things. There was the mask wearing — of course —, taking a screening test, getting my temperature taken before each shift and the new cleaning requirements. All that I could live with. I was glad that Walmart was taking precautions — and I was making bank! Working full-time with nothing to do — because no other businesses were open — really allowed me to save up for the fall. I was getting to know my coworkers really well, and those girls grounded me, helping me get through the tiring day and allowing me to rant about annoying and rude customers. But it got about 10 times worse when the store decided to put a mask mandate in place. As a newcomer to the store — and as someone afraid to say “no” to their boss — I got placed at the door and was asked to enforce

2. Create and host events - We put on many events throughout the year to engage the campus on a variety of issues. From Earth Week to movie showings in the Georgian Rooms, there’s always something interesting going on! 3. Impact policy on and off-campus - We work with administrative offices on campus and community officials to better policies for all students. To do this, we pass resolutions, serve on campus committees, hold meetings with notable leaders and more. This is our primary job as an organization. If any of this sounds interesting, you should consider joining us! If you have a specific issue you’d like to get involved with, you can apply to be an associate senator on a single StuGov committee by visiting our website at senate.truman.edu. If you’d like to be a bit more involved, you can participate in our fall elections. The election process starts soon, with candidate registration opening Tuesday, Sept. 7. Elections will take place online from Sept. 20-23. If you have questions about elections or getting involved, please visit our website or email stugovelectionsadmin@truman.edu. Our meetings are always held in the SUB Conference Room on the third floor. We generally meet at 5 p.m., but check our website to be sure! Anyone is welcome to attend. Have a great week! Owen Smith, StuGov Elections Administrator

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published during the academic by students Truman Stateconsults University, MOadviser 63501.but ultimately is forum, and content of TheThursdays Index is the responsibility of Thyear e Index staff. Theateditor-in-chief withKirksville, the staff and The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public responsible for all decisions. forum, and content The Indexare is the of The Indexofstaff. The Editor-in-Chief consults with the staff but represent ultiOpinions of Th e Indexofcolumnists notresponsibility necessarily representative the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our and Viewadviser editorials mately is responsible for all decisions. theOpinions view of the Editorial through two-thirds majority vote. The of Editorial Boardof consists of or thethe editor-in-chief, managing editor, section of The IndexBoard columnists areanot necessarily representative the opinions the staff newspaper. Our View editorials repeditors, chiefof and copy chief. The Index reservesmajority the rightvote. to edit submitted becauseofofthe space limitations, repetitive subject resentcopy the view theassistant Editorial Board through a two-thirds The Editorialmaterial Board consists Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, sectioncontent editors,orcopy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because ofand space limitamatter, libelous any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements letters to the tions, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the Editor-in-Chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes editor. advertisements and letters to the editor. LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon LETTER POLICY: theThe Sunday publication become of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, letter isare subject tonoon editing grammar Indexbefore welcomes letters and to the editor property from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor due by thefor Sunday before publication and spelling errors. and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar, punctuationmust and contain spellingaerrors. Submissions well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or ediSubmissions must contain well-developed theme andLetters cannotcontaining exceed 500 words,attacks, except at the discretion ofinaccurate the opinions editor and/will not tor-in-chief. Submission doesanot guarantee publication. personal libelous attacks or information or Editor-in-Chief. The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, beand published. letters to the editor must be typeddoes andnot submitted by publication, email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online tmn.truman.edu. should All offer a valid argument. Submission guarantee especially when submissions fail to add at something to the not be taken in consideration. Include thediscussion. words “letter to the editor” inpersonal the subject line oflibelous the email. Letters which are information not submitted digitally current Letters containing attacks, attacks or inaccurate will not bewill published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.editor@truman.edu or online at tmn.truman.edu. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of email. Letters which are submitted digitally will be taken intothe consideration. ADVERTISING POLICY: Forthe up-to-date information on not current advertising rates or not to inquire about availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu. ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Sales Manager at tmnadsales@truman.edu. VOLUME 113

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the new mandate. I only ever cried once on the job, and it was because of that awful position. It’s not a surprise that many Kirksville residents did not and still don’t believe in the mask mandate and believe it is an infringement upon their human rights. They took their frustrations and their anger out on me, a little 20-yearold just trying to pay her bills. I was screamed at and cursed out, someone even flashed their gun at me, saying that if I were to force them to put on a mask they wouldn’t be afraid to use it. I was told to report any instances like that to management, so they could handle the situation and I wouldn’t be put at risk. But after calling for management time and time again, weeks on end, with nothing happening, I just gave up. I was fed up, and I told them that I wouldn’t do it anymore. If one good thing came out of me working during the pandemic, besides the paychecks, was that I finally learned how to stand up for myself. I wouldn’t let management push me around anymore and put me in a position I didn’t sign up for. I continued working through the school year, working around my classes, The Index and any other organization I was part of. However, that meant giving up my weekends and any free time I had so I couldn’t hang out with friends anymore. I became a zombie, going from class to work to homework and back again. The stress of it all weighed on me, yet I pushed through. I kept telling myself it was because of the money, or because my coworkers already had it hard enough — I didn’t need to make it any more short-staffed. Finally, after this summer, I said enough is enough. I put my two weeks in just before classes started for my final semester here. I wanted to enjoy it, to look back on Truman and see all the fun time I had here and not see the wickedness that was working in retail in rural Missouri. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Looking at my quickly decreasing bank account, I can’t help but smile. I learned a lot from my time at Walmart, from working during the pandemic, but I think I will learn even more with all the new opportunities ahead of me.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Residence Life offers students new housing option in spring MATT FRANK Staff Writer

Enrollment Management and Marketing is now in charge of Residence Life and Sodexo, bringing in new goals and working on a gender inclusive housing option. This gender inclusive housing option will be available to students next academic year through a new, more mobile friendly, housing portal.

The Board of Governors approved the gender inclusive housing option over the summer. When using the new housing portal, students can indicate if they are interested in gender inclusive housing. Students who are interested in gender inclusive housing will be able to search for spaces with other people who are also interested in that experience. “I’m excited that the Board of Governors and the president of Truman, this

summer, have approved a change to housing policy,” Jamie Van Boxel, director of Residence Life, said. “We will now have a gender inclusive housing option available for students who apply to return to campus next year.” The gender inclusive housing option will allow for students to live together on campus regardless of biological sex. The intention of the new option is to allow for students of all gender identities and expressions a safe space to live on campus.

Centennial Hall is a residence hall that is not operating at full capacity this semester. Gender inclusive housing will be available next academic year. Photo from TMN Archives

The gender inclusive housing is optional, so students will not be required to participate if they choose not to. Students must indicate when applying for housing that they are interested in the gender inclusive housing option to be placed in a gender inclusive space. This new Residence Life option comes with another big change. Residence Life has been moved from the Student Affairs department to Enrollment Management and Marketing. Sodexo has also moved to Enrollment Management and Marketing. The change was made because of the large impact Residence Life has on potential students. One of the goals of Enrollment Management and Marketing for ResLife and Sodexo is to improve communication and getting messages out to the community. Marketing for the dining options in the Student Union Building to the Kirksville community is also an upcoming goal. “There is an advantage to opening up some of those retail opportunities to people in the community,” Tyana Lange, vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing said. “From a financial point of view, that means we are bringing in additional revenue which goes on to support students.” A new retention effort has been seen, with Sue Thomas, president of Truman, going to the residence halls throughout the first two weeks of classes for various activities with the students. The goal of this effort is to give students the opportunity to feel connected to the University during their first few weeks of being here. “We know that students who are connected are students that stay and are successful,” Lange said. “And that’s our goal for every student.”

COVID-19| University updates mask requirement and other pandemic protocols Continued from page 1 Within the next few weeks a survey will be sent out to Truman students, faculty and staff. This survey will have questions about vaccination status and the community’s attitudes toward the current COVID-19 policies. The results of this survey, as well as case counts on campus, in Kirksville and in Adair County will be taken into consideration when reevaluating the COVID-19 policy. Within Residence Life, a lot has changed regarding their COVID-19 policies. “It might be easier to say what is the same,” said Jamie Van Boxel, director of Residence Life. “The same thing is, at least for the time being, that we are all wearing masks. We are still isolating students who are ill.” The Student Health Center will contact Residence Life if a student needs to quarantine or isolate. Residence Life does have space set aside for students needing to isolate or quarantine in Campbell Apartments and Centennial Hall like the previous school year. In the Student Recreation Center, all programs and activities are back to normal, with the exception of wearing masks indoors. There will be various vaccination events for students over the next few weeks. A vaccination clinic will be available for students Sept. 2. The Moderna vaccine will be available for free to all students who pre-register. There are also vaccinations available at Walgreens and Hyvee in Kirksville that are free of charge.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 2021

TITLE IX| Truman welcomes new institutional compliance officer Continued from page 1 The biggest goal Nely has for Truman is to help the University become a more safe and equitable environment for students. A new campus climate survey will likely be conducted at some point during the academic year. This will help Nely determine how students, faculty and staff feel about their ability to make a report to him if they experience discrimination, harassment or sexual violence. Nely is also the University’s chief equity officer. This position is responsible for ensuring the University pursues equitable policies that promote diversity and inclusion.

“I didn’t know that Truman was going to be the place I would wind up, but that was always going to be my top preference because I had such a good experience here.” -Ryan Nely

Institutional Compliance Officer Nely graduated from Truman in 2013 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and philosophy and religion. After graduation, he attended the University of Missouri School of Law to receive his Juris Doctor degree. After graduating, Nely worked at the Jackson County, Missouri, prosecuting attorney’s office in Kansas City. In January 2020, he began to work in private litigation until coming to serve Truman in August of 2021. Working in higher education always interested Nely, with his interest building during his time as a Truman student. He was the student body president for Truman, which is where he developed an interest in the administrative side of the University. “I didn’t know that Truman was going to be the place I would wind up, but that was always going to be my top preference because I had such a good experience here,” Nely said. Nely learned many of the skills necessary for an institutional compliance officer during his time as a prosecuting attorney. He used to work in the special victims unit, which deals with cases involving sex crimes or domestic assaults. It was in this unit that he learned traumainformed investigative techniques and practices that might help him interact with witnesses during sensitive situations. During Truman Week, Nely spoke to the freshmen and incoming transfer students about consensual sex and discrimination. “I hope that from that they were able to realize that I’m not super intimidating and I’m not somebody that you can’t come talk to and can’t get to know,” Nely said.

Melissa Garzanelli, director of human resources, was one member of the six person committee that conducted interviews for the position. University President Sue Thomas is the one who made the final decision to give Nely the position. Garzanelli said Nely had a commitment to both the position and Truman that set him apart from other candidates. “Ryan also brings with him experience working with victims of trauma, a commitment to staying up-to-date on compliance issues, and a desire to work collaboratively with other offices on campus,” Garzanelli said. The Institutional Compliance Office can be reached by calling 660-7854354, visiting Truman’s Title IX website or going to Violette Hall room 1308. Other resources are available to students in addition to the institutional compliance office. The Department of Public Safety can be contacted to report sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking. Other on-campus resources include University Counseling Services, Women’s Resource Center and Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Off-campus resources are available as well. The Missouri Crisis Line is available 24/7 to discuss any crises. The Northeast Regional Medical Center and Kirksville Police Department are also available to those in Kirksville.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

life

Professor by day, crazy app developer by night GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features and Opinions Editor There are few people in the world who seem like they can do it all, and professor Chad Mohler is one of them. A professor of philosophy and religion at Truman, Mohler says he’s been at Truman “long enough I have to pause to count.” After doing the calculations he said he believes it’s his 22nd year. He’s been in academia almost his whole life, from kindergarten to now. After growing up near Columbus, Ohio, Mohler initially started college at The University of Notre Dame as a physics major. However, in his first semester he took a class that would change his life: philosophy. He was hooked, and added it as a second major. His senior year of college, he wasn’t sure which area he wanted to go into. He ended up going to graduate school for philosophy at Princeton University, where he received his Ph.D. “I’ve always been interested in teaching,” Mohler said. “And I was especially attracted to Truman as a place where teaching is highly valued, so I came here and the rest is history I guess you could say.” Teaching isn’t Mohler’s only interest however, he also plays viola, sings and codes in his free time. He says he’s always had an interest in computers, ever since the Apple II came out while he was in third grade. He got an Apple II E in fifth grade, but didn’t start programming until he was in college. As a physics major, he had to do some coding for his experiments. Since that time, his knowledge of programming has been mostly selftaught, made more convenient in the digital age as there are many resources online, such as Stanford University’s free iOS course. Mohler was able to take a sabbatical while he was at Truman around the time the iPhone first came out. “I thought it would be a nice way to merge my interest in doing things for Truman with my interest in programming by writing an iPhone app and the one that ultimately was the product then of that sabbatical was TruTouch,” Mohler said. TruTouch is a Truman information portal and includes a Truman

English professors have expressed interest in the app. Though he hasn’t publicized it too widely, he says he would be interested in doing a collaboration with other faculty at Truman from any area of study. Currently, Argumap is an iPhone and iPad app, but he is working on a Mac version. However, finding time to code can be difficult, Mohler said. “My knowledge of coding is relatively shallow, I don’t have a broad scope like many of our computer science faculty here at Truman, just because teaching doesn’t allow you a whole lot of time to do other things too,” Mohler said. “During the day I’m a mild-mannered philosopher, but at night I turn into a wild and crazy app developer.” Mohler has to find a little bit of time in the evenings to code and thinks of it more as a hobby. This hobby happens to be one that won him an award as part of a program Apple sponsors called the “Apple Distinguished Educator Program.” Mohler said Apple has a strong connection to education, and this is part of their initiative to support and bring attention to interesting projects teachers are doing with technology. It’s a fairly competitive competition, Mohler said, and there aren’t many higher education winners in the United States. Since it is a worldwide competition, he was able to meet interesting people from different countries and learn about their projects. He also was able to share his work with them. Mohler was also named the Educator of the Year at Truman by Student Government in 2018 and subsequently was awarded the Truman Governor’s award in 2019. Though he is a philosophy professor, he still maintains an interest in physics. “If you think about certain areas of physics,” Mohler said, “and I was especially interested in theoretical physics, high energy and nuclear physics, those particular areas are interested in the basic constituents of the physical world … If you think about quantum wave functions, for instance, you’re essentially trying to figure out ‘what is the world,’ like fundamentally, at a pretty basic level, and philosophy in certain areas is also interested in that question.”

Professor Mohler teaches philosophy and religion at Truman. Mohler won an award as part of the “Apple Distinguished Educator Program.” Photo by Genevieve Tlustos calendar, a link to blackboard, a link to listen to KTRM and other useful features for Truman students. More recently, Mohler has been working on an argument mapping app, aptly called “Argumap.” Argument maps are a way students can visualise the flow of information in an argument, and Mohler thinks it will help students talk and think about arguments when they can actually touch and move ideas. The app could be used not just in philosophy classes, but for any purpose that requires reasoning and logic. For example, you could use it in history, English or political science, Mohler said. In fact, he says some

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 2

Mohler pointed out that metaphysics asks, among other questions, “what mentally or spiritually exists?” and physics asks “what physically exists?”. Both areas are focused on learning about the world. As the world changes, so does the information Mohler teaches, he said. “Philosophers do like to make sure that they are open to empirical results, results from scientific research,” Mohler said. “I think sometimes people have in mind when they think of the philosopher something like the Rodin statue kind of leaning over thinking very intently about something or sinking back in their arm chair up in ye olde ivory tower thinking abstractly

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about things, but good philosophers these days are very interested in having their work informed by empirical investigation too.” For example, in the field of psychology, impressive advancements have been made in learning more about what people are thinking about, Mohler said. The reason he thinks philosophy is so important is because it helps us

help his students see what it’s like to be a professor is to give them the opportunity to briefly teach material. In turn, he tries to see what it’s like to be a student. When it comes to giving advice to students, Mohler said it can be easy to get overwhelmed about a project. “It’s the getting started that’s often the tough thing to do,” Mohler said. “So I say just think about what

“I think sometimes people have in mind when they think of the philosopher something like the Rodin statue kind of leaning over thinking very intently about something or sinking back in their arm chair up in ye olde ivory tower thinking abstractly about things, but good philosophers these days are very interested in having their work informed by empirical investigation too.” -Dr. Mohler Professor of philosophy and religion

understand fundamentally why we act in the ways we do. For example, getting down to the root of why you get a job, why you want money, what you want to do with the money, will show where our values ultimately lie. On a more practical level, Mohler said philosophers have excellent critical thinking skills and have some of the highest scores on LSAT tests for law schools. This critical thinking ability makes a philosophy degree valuable to employers. Over his 22 years Mohler said he’s seen some changes during his time at Truman. There is now an increased emphasis on mental health, which he sees as a good change. He has appreciated the continuation of the liberal arts mission but has also seen a decrease in population at Truman, which he sees as a little concerning. However, he said marketing all the great projects happening to the rest of Missouri and outside Missouri should help. One thing Mohler really appreciates about Truman is the relatively small class sizes. “I make it a point during in-person classes to learn every student’s name before the semester starts,” Mohler said. “Students get a little freaked out when I’m able to go down the row and am able to say who’s who on the first day of class. That’s more or less like a party trick but that’s one of the ways I try to connect with my students and it’s that kind of strong connection on a personal basis which I think small class sizes allow for and in general, I think you see that kind of attention to individual students at Truman.” Another aspect of Truman that sets it apart is the opportunities for faculty to learn about pedagogy and to receive promotions and tenure due to teaching achievement, rather than research achievement. Mohler said in order to help students from an individual approach, you need to get a sense of the challenges they face and the strengths they have. This approach is helpful in that Truman faculty can make more detailed letters of recommendation. He encourages his students to try to see things from a professor’s point of view, which he admits he himself wasn’t very good at as an undergraduate. For example, when it comes to grading, he encourages his students to think about how long it takes to do a good job of getting through each assignment. Another way Mohler tries to

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that one step is and that, I think, helps to overcome that hesitation they might feel. Frequently, procrastination also results from our being hard on ourselves. We spend time watching Netflix or doing other things besides school work and then we beat ourselves up about it, so I encourage students to practice self compassion and self care.” Mohler also advises students to talk to themselves how they would talk to a friend, since that helps them to have the right attitude of self care. He cited a Stanford researcher, Carol Dweck, who came up with the idea of a “growth mindset,” which allows one to think about why they might have failed and how they could do better in the future. This is in opposition to the “fixed mindset,” where you keep an ideal in your mind and try to live up to that ideal. In the future, Mohler wants to help the areas of philosophy and religion grow and develop. Those two areas are some that many people in the public school system haven’t had much public visibility to, though they have probably already been thinking philosophically about things. To increase visibility of philosophy in Kirksville, Mohler and his wife, Sarah Mohler, an English professor at Truman who sometimes teaches a children’s literature class, do a program where they read children’s literature to elementary school students to help them start thinking about philosophical questions. Mohler said right now he is working on a grant to encourage high school students to take philosophical classes. He also wants to continue to find ways to use technology to enhance his teaching. Mohler said he wants students to know that he’s always happy to meet with them and talk with them outside of class, even if they aren’t in one of his classes for a particular semester. He encourages students to interact with their professors and communicate with them, something he wasn’t very good at as an undergraduate student. “ ... I encourage them to seek us all out and start to communicate with faculty members about different topics,” Mohler said. “I invite students to do that with me as well if they’d like to talk about philosophy, programming, life, the universe and everything.”

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The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Cats vs. dogs

Which pet is best for Truman students? SAVANNAH KLEUSNER AND GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Staff Writer and Features and Opinions Editor Don’t fret — all of our furry friends are beloved here at Truman State University! That said, which pet is truly the best according to Truman students? We interviewed pet owners on campus and got the scoop on who gets a scratch behind the ears and which pet has to sleep in the doghouse. Read on to decide for yourself which pet rules and which pet drools — spoiler alert, they all rule.

Albert

Emma Lee

Jones got to bring her dog Albert with her to college, and has had him for 10 years. A fun fact about Albert is that he loves to dance! Jones said he does a prance-like jump, and if someone does it back to him, he’ll do it again. That’s not Albert’s only quirk though. “He loves to eat basketballs. It’s a weird thing, but he likes it,” Jones said. “He deflates it; he tries to get it apart, which we usually don’t let him, but he likes to deflate basketballs.” Watch your basketballs and your hearts, because Albert is likely to steal them both.

Emma Lee’s known hobbies include sleeping, chasing string and avidly fangirling over catnip. She’s also a terrific hunter; her prey has included a pigeon larger than herself when she was a kitten. She’s even caught hummingbirds, which Bolton said made her feel, “somewhat guilty, somewhat proud.” She’s also earned a place in Bolton’s heart as being the first cat she ever owned, and for being incredibly loyal to Bolton and her mother. Emma Lee is also fiercely protective of Bolton, acting as a guard-cat by protecting her owner from an attack of excessive licking Submitted photo from Bolton’s dogs.

Owner: Krystal Jones Pet’s age: 12 years Type of dog: Lab mix

Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Owner: Em Bolton Pet’s age: 11 years

Steve

Bailey

Owner: Macy Cecil Pet’s age: 4 years Steve’s favorite activities include sleeping and looking out the window so she can chirp at birds. Cecil said eating is Steve’s favorite thing in the world. She also loves catnip, since she has a bag that allows her to scratch and roll to release the tasty treat. An especially fun fact about Steve is that, for her birthday, Cecil threw a Steve party. Guests came dressed as various famous Steves, including Steve Harvey, Stevie Nicks and Steve from Blue’s Clues! She’s “literally the sweetest cat in the world,” said Cecil. Because she acts more like a dog than a cat, she is “the best of both worlds,” Cecil said. Submitted photo

Rudy

Owner: Brenna Nevels Pet’s age: 11 years Type of dog: chihuahua shiba inu mix

Submitted photo

This one-eyed dog was rescued by Nevels last summer after his original owner died. Nevels said they were told he lost his eye in a fight with another dog, but they aren’t sure if that’s true. What he lost in eyesight he makes up for with his very refined taste palate: he loves Pioneer Woman chicken treats and will often refuse any other treats! “He has to wear diapers because he will spitefully pee in our kitchen if we don’t give him enough attention,” Nevels said. Rudy isn’t a big fan of toys, and mostly just wants to nap and cuddle. Make sure to keep an eye out for Rudy around campus!

Owner: Maddie Rupprecht Pet’s age: 1 year Type of dog: Dalmatian and blue heeler mix This sweet puppy turns one year old this week, so happy birthday, Bailey! Rupprecht said Bailey is her first dog, and she is very intelligent because of her blue heeler genetics. She is still training Bailey, but she already knows several tricks, and Rupprecht was able to potty train her in just a few hours. While Bailey might be intelligent, Rupprecht said she is not intelligent enough to sneak out. Bailey’s intelligence is not the only thing that sets her apart however. “She has a thing with ears and feet and licking them, I don’t know why,” Maddie said. Submitted photo

Wednesday Addams Owner: Madeline Lee Pet’s age: 1 year, 3.5 months

Wednesday has many distinctive features, including being nearly polydactyl, with one partially formed toe on each of her front feet. She also looks like she has eyebrows and has three white patches, one on her belly and one on two of her armpits. One of Wednesday’s favorite activities is people-watching from the window, as well as playing with her blue mousey. She also “loves to play with trash, even though she has so many toys,” Lee said. Wednesday serves as an emotional support animal, a friend, especially during online classes and an accountability partner by encouraging her owner out of bed to feed her in the morning by knocking down the objects on Submitted photo the dresser.

Carter Lynn

Chewy

Owner: Maya Krump Pet’s age: 16 years

Carter Lynn is a connoisseur of all things cold. Some of his favorite objects to play with are ice cubes, and he has been known to enjoy eating sour cream, ice cream and cheese — but only if they are cold. He is also a fan of licking the condensation off of Krump’s iced coffee, making drinking coffee a bonding experience between owner and cat. Some of Carter Lynn’s other favorites include being spooned and sitting next to Krump while his owner does homework. In fact, he likes to act just like his owner and follows Krump around constantly, which makes him a great pet and companion. Submitted photo

Owner: Jacintha Thomas Pet’s age: 5 months Type of dog: Miniature schnauzer Chewy sure does love to chew on some interesting things! Though she has probably 30 toys, Thomas said she loves toilet paper rolls and water bottles more than anything else. “She’ll literally just shred it, she doesn’t eat them, she just shreds them to pieces and then she leaves them for me to pick up later,” Thomas said. Chewy was named after Chewbacca from “Star Wars,” see the resemblance?

Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Taylor releases updated “Fearless” JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer Taylor Swift’s impact on American popular culture is undeniable. It is nearly impossible for anyone born after 2000 to imagine our childhood without her music providing part of the soundtrack. As one of the most dominant pop acts of our time, she has adapted her sound numerous times, ensuring that her music never grows stale. After revealing that her former manager had offered her an exploitative deal, Swift re-recorded and released her 2008 album Fearless earlier this year. This re-release is not only a brilliant marketing campaign to boost sales of an older album, it is also a move to gain more autonomy. The original master recordings of Fearless do not belong to Swift, and as a result, the proceeds from sales did not go directly to her. By re-recording the album and releasing it without her old manager and label, she is receiving the profits from the album sales. Her enormous popularity and influence on college students — I saw a girl wearing jeans and a cardigan in 90 degree weather — as well as the request of my editor and my own curiosity to listen to a Taylor Swift

album, have led me to review this album. The album kicks off with three solid songs back to back. The album opener, “Fearless,” conjures up images of driving in a convertible on a sunny day with the one you love. “Fifteen” is easily my favorite song from this album, nostalgically transporting me back to the early days of high school where my biggest concern was whether the popular girl in English thought I was cute. This song is perfect at drawing out the emotions of a fifteen year old experiencing heartbreak, friendship and big dreams. The next song on the album, “Love Story,” is an absolute classic. This very catchy retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” is played at nearly every wedding after 2008, and with good reason. Another classic on the album is “You Belong With Me” which will have you singing along to every word, regardless of how tough you think you are. “You’re Not Sorry” is hauntingly beautiful and “Forever and Always” is incredibly catchy. Swift takes the listener on another nostalgia trip with “Best Day,” a song showing love for one’s parents, while “The Way I Loved You” sounds like it belongs in the credits of a heartwarming teen movie. This album is very good, perfectly showcasing Swift’s ability to craft anthemic earworms that are revered for years after their release. One of my favorite

parts of this album is how easily Swift can make the listener feel the emotions she’s trying to convey, whether it be heartbreak or longing. One of the main drawbacks of the album is its length. Clocking in at an hour and 46 minutes, some of the songs towards the end start to drag and blend together. However, since this is a reissue including previously unreleased songs from the vault, it is a given that it will be longer so it cannot really be held against the album. Another minor nitpicky critique is that “You Belong With Me” feels a little dated with its “not like the other girls” attitude, but it is nonetheless a great song that illustrates the frustration of watching someone else date the person you’re in love with. Overall, this album’s impact in 2008 was phenomenal, and this reissue is a great addition to Swift’s catalog. It is one of the best pop albums of our time, and it perfectly illustrates how Swift has climbed the pop charts into superstardom. For all my fellow metal maniacs out there, I highly recommend listening to this album, if nothing else, than to take a break from giving yourself whiplash while headbanging. Plus, try to headbang to Taylor Swift and not get a smile on your face. I dare you.

Jack’s rating: 3.5/5 stars

“Reminiscence” is a forgetful, blundering sci-fi romance JOEY DOUGHERTY Staff Writer On Aug. 20, Lisa Joy, co-creator and producer of the hit HBO series “Westworld,” released the science fiction epic “Reminiscence” in theaters and on HBO Max. The film is obviously inspired by Joy’s work on “Westworld” as it plays to that same tune of sci-fi grandiosity, all the while flaunting the ambition of the genre’s greatest hits. Unfortunately, the film stumbles at nearly every turn in its hard-to-follow narrative. “Reminiscence” follows Nick Bannister, a private investigator living in post-apocalyptic Miami. The city is now catastrophically flooded following a devastating war, of which Nick and his business partner Watts are veterans. Operating out of a nondescript warehouse in the city’s underbelly, the two run a specialized service allowing their clientele to relive moments and events from their respective pasts by connecting with a strange apparatus. The client’s memories are displayed as holograms for Nick and Watts to witness as they play out — an uncomfortably invasive practice. This service is utilized by its customers for a multitude of reasons, from the desire to relive a moment with

a lost loved one to the urgency of finding out where one might have dropped their keys on the way to work. One day, a mysterious woman named Mae arrives in urgent need of Nick and Watts’s service. As Nick watches Mae’s day play out before his eyes, he quickly falls for her. Mae reciprocates this interest and the two spend every moment together for months until, out of the blue, she vanishes. What follows is a garishly complicated quest to find Mae, Nick all the while unraveling the identity of a woman he might not have truly known. While the plot of “Reminiscence” is no doubt an intriguing one, it falters from the beginning. The film’s opening scenes are bogged down by an obtrusive voiceover, almost completely expository in nature. Voiceover has its place and may even be necessary for some narratives, but all of what gets relayed here is either already shown onscreen or heavily implied by the characters and setting. Nothing is added by its inclusion and just feels like dead weight. The age-old adage “show, don’t tell” seems to have fallen to the wayside. Moreover, certain plot points receive far too little attention. For instance, the war that led to Miami’s current state is alluded to

Joey’s rating: 5/10 magnifying glasses

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throughout the film in both voiceover and dialogue. The audience never receives concrete details about this conflict, only that it resulted in country-wide deluge and dramatized separation of class — the rich claiming estates far from the flooding and the poor relegated to the coastal city streets the sea threatens to submerge. The war is far too momentous a concept to let fall into such obscurity. “Reminiscence” says too much about what the audience already knows and too little about what it probably should. Although the film runs too long — the last grand plot twist lasts for the better part of a half-hour and plays out quite awkwardly — there is good filmmaking to be found in “Reminiscence.” While much of the romance between Nick and Mae is rather runof-the-mill, the two share a few scenes that are rather touching and allow the viewer to root for them despite an often hollow story. These scenes commonly encapsulate a single shared moment. For instance, in one scene Mae asks Nick to tell her a story with a happy ending. Nick replies that there is no such thing, only stories with sad ones. Mae concedes and instead asks for a story without its ending, so as to leave the sadness unknown. Nick asks her if she knows the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice right before the scene

ends, leaving the story’s outcome up to the unfamiliar viewer, the sadness unknown. It’s ultimately a rather meta approach to the filmmaking process, showcasing some of Joy’s best work. Unfortunately, aside from a well-made score by “Game of Thrones” composer Ramin Djawadi and impressive cinematography from Paul Cameron, “Reminiscence” doesn’t have much else to offer. Hugh Jackman as Nick and Rebecca Ferguson as Mae play their characters well enough, but the two have offered so much more in other roles that their efforts fall flat here. Thandiwe Newton as Watts is likewise adequate, while Cliff Curtis as the villainous Cyrus Boothe presents some laughably bad dialogue, though this is as much Joy’s writing as it is Curtis’s performance. In all, “Reminiscence” is an ambitious but ultimately barren attempt at replicating the film industry’s greatest modern sci-fi epics, films like “Arrival,” “Interstellar” or “Blade Runner.” While several of the trappings are present here — seasoned cast, original concept, intriguing world — the plot is too bloated with unnecessary exposition and too void of consistently engaging drama. The film trips over itself quite noticeably, leaving the end result an unfortunately forgetful mess.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Feeding

Adair County

Local food bank serves local Kirksville community ALYSSA RZANY Assistant Features and Opinions Editor

In addition to Truman volunteers, two to three representatives from each of the six founding churches, as well as others from the community, come each week to help distribute food. Another opportunity to help out the pantry is to come up with recipe ideas. The pantry recently received 500 ham hocks to give to their clients, and they put out a request on their Facebook page for boxes of cornbread mix and bags of beans so they could provide a whole meal idea. “They gave us 500 ham hocks and people were like ‘we don’t know what to do with that, what is that,’ so we asked for cornbread mix and beans,’’ said Jackson. “When we told them what to do, [the clients] said ‘that’s wonderful, I love that!’” Jackson also mentioned that PAC volunteers work together like a family to keep things organized and operating smoothly. On any given distribution day, as many as 15-20 people gather together and find jobs. No matter the volunteer, Jackson will find a job for them to do that will make a positive impact on the community. “For those two hours, their overwhelming compassion is what keeps PAC running. You are not only struck by the number of households who are food insecure in Adair County, but you are provided with plenty of ways to help,” said Jackson. Estes echoed these sentiments by expressing that the most rewarding part of serving the pantry is seeing the clients react to the amount of food given. He loves relieving the client’s worries, even for just a week, by giving them a bag of food. He encourages others to reach out and serve the community by volunteering at the PAC because not only are you able to help hundreds of people, but you feel great about it afterwards. “You make someone’s whole week because now they don’t have to worry about buying food,” said Estes. The PAC is welcoming volunteers with open arms. They require prospective volunteers to fill out a form with their contact information and availability so they can get started as soon as possible. Their table will be at the New Student Welcome from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 12 on The Square, and they are happy to answer any questions.

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A group of student volunteers at the food pantry. Several Truman organizations volunteer to serve. Submitted photo

Inside of the Adair County food pantry. Adair County ranks fourth out of 114 counties in Missouri. Photo by Alyssa Rzany

Feeding America estimates that in the U.S. today, 13 million children face hunger — that’s one in six kids. Furthermore, the poverty rate in Missouri is at 14% and in Adair County alone, it’s at 25.6%. This ranks them fourth out of 114 counties in Missouri. Thankfully, the Pantry for Adair County, PAC, realized these daunting statistics and decided to do something about it. Joanne Jackson, president of PAC, said that in 2013, local pastors came together with the common interest to end hunger in Adair County. In doing so, they opened a local food pantry that, within three years, was distributing food to about 130 households each month. In 2021, they fed 359 households monthly, breaking down to 845 individuals, 258 of which are under 18 years old. The year before, they saw a drastic increase in clients. “During the pandemic last year, we had over 500 families a month,” said Jackson. In order to support the dire need in the area, several churches around the area provide over 540,000 pounds of food, but the need in Adair County is 1.33 million pounds. Most of the food distributed by PAC comes from the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Walmart and HyVee also contribute, and Jackson said that this summer, they received produce from the Truman State University Farm. “We have been truly happy that Truman farm has been so supportive of us,” Jackson said. “Our clients have been truly blessed by the outpouring of nutritional food received from the TSU farm.” In addition to the food brought by Truman organizations, several clubs come to volunteer at the pantry. Corbin Estes, public relations chair for Blue Key, mentioned that their organization aims to serve the community by volunteering, and they are eager to do so. He said that oftentimes, they don’t have enough spots for the members who want to volunteer. Several other community service based organizations at Truman help out, making a lasting impact on those they interact with. Jackson expressed her gratitude for Blue Key members and was excited to talk about all that they do for the pantry “They’re the guys who can put the big boxes up on the shelves,” said Jackson. She said they also help out by unloading the trucks, stocking, and bringing out food to the clients.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Lady Bulldogs golf captains lead the pack STEVEN FINDLEY JR Sports Editor The Truman State University women’s golf team will return to action this fall with ambitious goals. Senior Emily Ducaji is one of the captains on the team this year, and the upperclassman is looking to return to familiar form. “Individually this season, I’m gonna keep doing the same thing by continuing to work hard and improve,” Ducaji said. Ducaji was named to the Academic AllGLVC team and competed in each tournament last year for the lady Bulldogs. The captain went on to provide an explanation for new golf fans as to how their season works. “Our fall season is technically our off-season,” Ducaji said. “We play in the fall to earn a ranking heading into the spring season.” For collegiate golf, the fall season serves as a tune-up of sorts for the team. They play in what is known as the championship season in the spring. The goal of the championship season is to earn a bid in the regional and eventually national tournament. “I think that we are going to be coming into this season hungrier than ever,” Ducaji said. Maya Schnable is another senior on the team, and holds the other captain position with Ducaji. The senior does not shy away from her role, and expressed great pride in her selection. “I have always been the type of person to step into a leadership role on and off the course,” Schnable said. Schnable also earned her second Academic All-GLVC honor last year and continues to be a leading example for her team. Unfortunately, the senior captain suffered an MCL injury right before the spring season, but managed to find some positives in the situation. “Being injured during the spring season was rough on my game,” Schnable said. “However, it allowed me to renew my mental game.” The mental side of golf is something that Schnable considers to be overlooked by many, and cited it as a key component to the sport.

The lady Bulldogs pose for a team photo. The season begins at the Lady Panther Fall Invite Sept. 21. Submitted photo The outgoing and positive attitude that Schnable aims to bring into every aspect of the team is another point of pride from the senior. “As a captain, I want to see the team give it our all every tournament,” Schnable said. “We also take pride in having the best sportsmanship every time we compete.” Schnable went on to label the first four tournaments of the season as highstandard competitions, and hopes it will prepare the team for spring. The captains’ effect is certainly felt by the younger members of the team, such as sophomore Catherine Salem.

“Our captains keep us focused on pushing each other in a positive way to be the best team we can be,” Salem said. Last season, Salem traveled with the team quite often despite only being a freshman, showing her talent early on in her career for the team. The sophomore does not take her travel opportunities lightly and mentioned how playing in a tournament is not a sure thing for anybody. “Playing in a tournament is not guaranteed, but I can guarantee that I will work as hard as possible to be the best I can be,” Salem said. The competitive nature of individual

golf performances to qualify for competitions is met with a healthy mix of team support. Salem noted the supporting environment that the team strives for, where players that may not have traveled for a given tournament still show full support for the others. The lady Bulldogs’ fall season kicks off Sept. 20 at the Lady Panther Fall Invite hosted by Drury University.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

The Index

Cross country freshmen look to go the distance ANDREW HOLDER Staff Writer The Truman State University men’s cross country team is welcoming a large freshman class that will soon grow to be leaders of the team and define an era for Truman cross country over the next four years. There are currently four freshmen on the active roster, accompanied by three upperclassmen, two of which are using their final year of eligibility with the modified NCAA rules. Graduate student, Tom Cormier, and junior, Nathan Key, were very quick to praise the work ethic they have already seen from the freshman class. “All the underclassmen have showed up ready to work,” said Key. “I don’t have anything negative to say about any of the freshmen … Evan AuBuchon has been injured, but what sticks out to me

is that he still shows up to every practice and does whatever coach Schwegler asks of him.” The leadership of the upperclassmen and coaches cannot be understated when it is put in the

“All the underclassmen have showed up ready to work.” - Nathan Key Junior perspective of the development and performance of the runners. Head coach Tim Schwegler is entering his seventh season as the men’s cross

country coach and has a very unique connection to the Truman program. In the 1980s, Schwegler served as the captain of the Truman cross country team and a member of the track team. Following his graduation he found a home in Kirksville, coaching the Kirksville Tigers’s cross country team. He was the catalyst for three district titles and two North Central Missouri Conference championships. He then coached for Highland Community College, making them a top-20 NJCAA program before returning to Truman in 2006 as an assistant coach, later becoming head coach. Both Cormier and Key were quick to heap praise on their coach for his passion and understanding of the sport. “It’s encouraging to know that he’s been a student here so he knows what it’s like to be a student athlete and what it takes to succeed. He lays the groundwork for us to suc-

ceed and in turn, he expects that we reward that with effort,” said Key. Cormier continued, saying, “When it comes to workout performances, he tries to be encouraging and push us. He relies on intrinsic motivation of the runners, which is reliant on your own goals so you will only do as well as you are willing to push yourself.” Cormier also elaborated on the importance of injury prevention, a factor that goes into winning a race that coaches have an impact on. The men’s cross country team has their first meet this Thursday, Sept. 2 as they host Lindenwood University at the Countryside Church Course at 5:45 p.m. This is part of the annual Dog and Cat Fight event and will be a chance to scope the performances of the freshmen and the future of the program.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

VOLLEYBALL

LOOKS TO BUMP OUT THE OLD

Fifth year senior and outside hitter Ellie Kaat goes aerial to spike the ball. Kaat earned a spot on the Second Team All-GLVC last season. Photos from TMN Archives STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor Fall sports are returning this week to Truman State University, and the women’s volleyball team is looking to return to a new normal after a recent renovation of the coaching staff. The University hired David Gannon in July for the head coaching position, and also brought in Sam Albus in August to be the assistant coach of the team. With a new coach at the helm, players such as fifthyear outside hitter Ellie Kaat are expressing excitement regarding the new hires. “As a team, we are certainly excited to have coach Gannon come to our program,” Kaat said. Gannon brings Div. I experience with him, serving stints as an assistant coach with University of Idaho and Weber State University. This type of experience will serve the Bulldogs well, along with the fresh perspective of a new coaching staff. “Coach Gannon is a high-energy guy with a passion for the game,” Kaat said. “He’s an offensive mind who has already revamped our attack.” Alongside Gannon is Sam Albus, an experienced volleyball mind that has coached in Germany amongst other places. Kaat described a new team mantra that the seniors on the team came up with for the upcoming season. “We decided on the phrase ‘give more,’” Kaat said. “This means that our team is going to have an attitude of giving it a greater effort than our best one all season.” Coach Gannon will be inheriting a team that was projected to finish fourth in their division in a recently published pre-season GLVC poll. Middle blocker Ainsley Heise finished as a top 10 statistically ranked blocker last season, after accumulating 65 blocks, leading the team. “I think our pre-season ranking could be influenced by the look that is brought when you hire a new coaching staff,” Heise said. “A lot of teams are going to be caught off-guard when they face us.” The middle blocker expressed excitement about returning to a full season, having played a shortened season last year because of the pandemic. Heise also provided praise for the new head coach, who seemingly has earned the respect of his team already. “Gannon possesses outstanding court vision, and sees the whole court on a different level,” Heise said.

Senior outside hitter Morgan Smith attacks the opposing defense. Smith earned Academic All-GLVC honors last season. VOLUME 113

ISSUE 2

The junior middle blocker will look to continue her role as a defensive force for the Bulldogs, making for a reliable component to the team’s success. A common message expressed by both Heise and Kaat is their passion for the game and the love they have for it. “One of the main things I’ve always tried to focus on is having fun playing the game,” Heise said. “When I’m having fun, I play my best volleyball.” Newly hired head coach David Gannon expressed similar excitement about the team he is inheriting this season. The former Div. I assistant coach came upon the Truman position in a culturally shocking manner. “When I applied for the position, I honestly had no idea what Truman State possessed in terms of history and a volleyball program,” Gannon said. The head coach reminisced on his hiring process, retelling how the University did not contact him until a month after his initial interview. Luckily, the Bulldogs did reach out to Gannon, and through a Zoom call with the athletics higher ups and an official visit. Through the deliberation of athletic director Jerry Wollmering, senior associate athletics director Kevin White and assistant athletics director Madison Peterson, Gannon was offered the position. “Having received that call back, it lit a flame inside of me to research Truman,” Gannon said. “I dove into the school’s history and culture regarding its academics and sports.” Gannon recalled a quick turnaround after his hiring, stating that he was asked to attend off-season camp that was just a week away from his hire date.

Having heard this, Gannon packed everything up and made it to Kirksville on time for the first day of camp, and has since been able to officially coach his new team. “We think that our team can be really good,” Gannon said. “We want to compete at a high level in the GLVC.” The offensive-minded guru noted the two outside hitters of the team, Ellie Kaat and Morgan Smith, as outstanding talent for the Bulldogs’ squad this year. On-the-court excitement was evident from Gannon, but the off-the-court process is also on the mind of the head coach. “I’m excited to be able to recruit in the midwest,” Gannon said. “There is a lot of great volleyball talent in this region.” Gannon then went on to lay out his humble expectations regarding his team this season. The head coach expressed his belief in the ability of his team to respect their opponents each and every game, and to play their hardest at each stop. “We’re going to try to change a culture that has become a bit stagnant,” Gannon said. “It won’t happen in one season, but I know we can over time.” The Bulldogs are heading to Jackson, Tennessee this weekend for a tournament against out-of-conference opponents. Four matches will be played by the team, who will enjoy the perks of a pre-season that they missed out on last year. The coaching staff is changing, but the deeper change for this program will be in its culture. Fans can be excited to see what Gannon can do for this squad, on and off the court for years to come.

Junior middle blocker Ainsley Heise tosses the ball to serve during a match. Heise led the team in blocks with 65 last season.

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